What is the Trump Gold Card visa?

The Trump Gold Card visa establishes a new, expedited pathway for certain wealthy individuals to obtain U.S. permanent residency by making a significant financial contribution to the U.S. Treasury.

This non-refundable contribution is structured differently depending on the source of the funds:

• $1 million for individuals petitioning on their own behalf
• $2 million for a corporation contributing on behalf of an employee or prospective employee

How the Trump Gold Card visa works

The Gold Card program isn’t a brand new visa category. Rather, it accelerates your approval for existing employment-based visa categories used to apply for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status.

Specifically, the Gold Card is designed to modify the EB-1A (extraordinary ability Green Card) and EB-2 NIW (national interest waiver) visas. So instead of providing evidence that you are “of exceptional business ability and national benefit,” you can cut a check. The Gold Card visa also expedites processing for your actual Green Card application.

The White House says the purpose of the Gold Card program is twofold:

1. To attract capital and talent: The program is designed to prioritize immigrants who will “affirmatively benefit the Nation, including successful entrepreneurs, investors, and businessmen and women.”
2. To promote commerce: The executive order says the financial gifts (the $1 million or $2 million contributions) will be deposited into a special fund in the U.S. Treasury to be used to “promote commerce and American industry.”

Tax implications of the Trump Gold Card

The Trump Gold Card visa grants you status as a lawful permanent resident. As such, you’ll be subject to U.S. taxation on your worldwide income upon obtaining residency.

As with investment-related visas, immigrants must prove that capital investments come from lawful sources, as proven by business records, tax records, and other evidence.

Who qualifies for the Trump Gold Card visa?

While the Trump Gold Card program can help you qualify for a visa more quickly, it isn’t the only hurdle. Simply having $1 million isn’t enough either.

Aside from the financial gift, you must be eligible for lawful permanent resident status under standard U.S. immigration law. You’ll have to undergo security vetting and provide evidence of the source of your finances. There may be additional requirements not yet mentioned.

What is the application process for Trump’s Gold Card visa?

The application process for Trump’s Gold Card visa includes a mix of upfront fees, registration, vetting, and then the qualifying contribution process (with additional Green Card processing afterward).

Register interest and pay processing fee

Applicants must register and pay a nonrefundable processing fee before making the qualifying contribution.

Even before making the $1 million gift, applicants must first pay an nonrefundable $15,000 processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security. Family members can also join an application—for an extra $1 million each (plus the $15,000 fee per person).

Complete security screening and eligibility checks

Applicants must undergo security screening and demonstrate they are otherwise eligible for lawful permanent residency under U.S. law.

You should expect detailed source-of-funds documentation and vetting similar to other investment- or wealth-adjacent immigration pathways.

Make the qualifying contribution

After initial processing and vetting, eligible applicants make the qualifying contribution to the U.S. Treasury (or, for corporate sponsorship, the qualifying corporate contribution).

Proceed to Green Card processing

The Gold Card is designed to expedite processing for the Green Card application itself after the visa qualification pathway is satisfied.

Benefits of Trump’s Gold Card visa program

• Potentially faster path to LPR status by leveraging EB-1 and EB-2 categories
• Avoids extraordinary ability evidence burdens via contribution pathway
• Corporate sponsorship option for key employees

Limitations of Trump’s Gold Card visa

• High upfront cost (plus processing fees and per-family-member costs)
• Security vetting and source-of-funds scrutiny still apply
• LPR status triggers worldwide income tax exposure
• Program details and requirements may evolve as agencies finalize implementation

What corporate sponsors need to know about the Trump Gold Card visa

Corporate sponsorship allows companies to pursue permanent residency for key employees by making a larger qualifying contribution.

Companies can sponsor a Gold Card by paying $2 million to get permanent residency for key employees.

Trump Gold Card visa vs. the EB-5 visa

The Gold Card program differs from EB-5 because it routes through EB-1/EB-2 mechanisms and relies on a Treasury contribution pathway rather than the EB-5 investment/job-creation framework.

Alternate visa options for immigrants

Depending on your background and goals, you may have alternatives under standard employment-based immigration categories.

EB-1 visa

EB-1 pathways can apply to certain individuals with extraordinary ability and other qualifying EB-1 categories.

EB-2 visa

EB-2 pathways can apply to certain professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability, including NIW options in some cases.

Explore your Green Card options with Keller Law

Explore your Green Card options with Keller Law.